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Quick Visit to Ushiku Daibutsu: Japan’s Tallest Buddha Statue
The Ushiku Daibutsu, also known as the Great Buddha of Ushiku, is a Buddha statue located in Ushiku, Japan. Standing at 120 meters tall, Ushiku Daibutsu is the tallest statue in Japan and one of the worlds tallest Buddha statues. If you wish to visit Ushiku Daibutsu, it’s an easy day trip from Tokyo. Visitors can relax in the beautiful park surrounding the statue and can even venture inside Ushiku Daibutsu. This post is all about Japan’s tallest Buddha statue. Find out how to get here and what to expect when visiting Ushiku Daibutsu. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Facts About Ushiku Daibutsu Ushiku Daibutsu was completed in 1993. Ushiku Daibutsu stands 120 meters (390 ft) tall. This statue is considered to be the 5th tallest statue in the world. Ushiku Daibutsu is the tallest statue in Japan. Visitors can access the inside of Ushiku Daibutsu. In fact, there is an elevator that goes to the observation deck 85m (279 ft) high. The total weight of Ushiku Daibutsu is 4,003 tons (8,825,000 lbs.). The statue is made of bronze. Inside Ushiku Daibutsu there is an impressive room with 3,400 smaller statues of Buddha. Visiting Ushiku Daibutsu Admission and Hours Admission Adults ¥800 for Garden and Ushiku Daibutsu¥500 for Garden Only Children¥400 for Garden and Ushiku Daibutsu¥300 for Garden Only Hours 9:30 – 17:00 Weekdays (March to September) 9:30 – 16:30 (October to February) 9:30 – 17:30 Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays (March to September) 9:30 – 16:30 (October to February) Admission and Hours are based on the Ushiku Daibutsu website. Surrounding Park and Garden The park and garden leading up to and surrounding Ushiku Daibutsu is a must. Various flowers and plants bloom throughout the year. The hillside surrounding the pond, depending on when you go is covered in beautiful purple flowers. This is also a prime cherry blossom spot. My favorite place in the park was the pond filled with carp. You can feed the carp, they come right up to the shore. Interior of Ushiku Daibutsu It is possible and highly recommended to visit the inside of Ushiku Daibutsu. For a ¥800 entrance fee, visitors can explore the beautiful grounds and access the inside of Ushiku Daibutsu. five floors within Ushiku Daibutsu can be explored by visitors. The first couple floors provide information about the size of Ushiku Daibutsu and the construction. Of course there are gift shops inside as well. After passing by the exhibits, you can access an elevator that takes you to the 5th floor at 85 meters high. On the 5th floor, there are thin slits of windows to look out of. You can truly see how tall this statue really is as the people below are barely recognizable. One of my favorite floors was the 3rd floor. Here is where you can find about 3,400 golden Buddha statues placed in the wall. Remember, this is still a religious site where people come to pray. Please be quiet and respectful hen visiting Ushiku Daibutsu. Getting to Ushiku Daibutsu Ushiku Daibutsu is kind of off the beaten path. It does take planning and effort to get here, but it’s well worth the trip. For visitors that don’t have the freedom of a car, the nearest train station to Ushiku Daibutsu is Ushiku Station. From the train station it is probably worth it just to take a taxi. There are direct trains from Ueno Station to Ushiku Station via the JR Joban Line. The journey takes about an hour. If taking a car, there is a huge parking area with free parking. Conclusion Visiting Japan’s tallest Buddha statue, Ushiku Daibutsu is a site to marvel at. The sheer size of Ushiku Daibutsu is difficult to comprehend, I’ve never seen anything quite as large. You can see Ushiku Daibutsu from a far distance. Up close it is truly a masterpiece. The gardens and surrounding park are impressive as well and offer amazing views. If you get a chance to explore the inside of Ushiku Daibutsu, there are panoramic views from the observation deck, giving visitors a different perspective of the height and greatness of this statue. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Visiting Tōdai-ji: Home to Nara’s Great Buddha Hall
Tōdai-ji or simply Todai ji is a Buddhist Temple located in Nara, Japan. Home to one of the world’s largest sitting bronze statues of Buddha and one of the world’s largest wooden buildings, Tōdai-ji is a must visit temple in Japan. When visiting Tōdai-ji, make sure to walk through the Namdaimon (Grand South Gate), go to the Tōdai-ji Museum, take photos at the Tōdai-ji Kagami-Ike Pond, and pay the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) a visit. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! History of Tōdai-ji The history of Tōdai-ji dates back to the year 728 although it was the year 752 when the temple was complete. Due to an earthquake in 855, the Great Buddha within the temple was damaged, the statue actually lost its head but was restored shortly after. Like many wooden structures in Japan, the temple was damaged or lost due to fires, lightning strikes, and even attacks. The current building at Tōdai-ji we all see today when visiting Nara was constructed in 1709. The current building complex is actually 30% smaller then what it used to be. Which is a surprise because Tōdai-ji is massive. Visiting Tōdai-ji Admission and Hours Admission Adult – ¥6006 – 12 Years Old – ¥300 The Great Buddha Hall and Tōdai-ji Museum Joint Pass Adult – ¥1,0006 – 12 Years Old – ¥400 Hours Great Buddha Hall(Daibutsu-den) April – October November – March7:30 – 17:30 8:00 – 17:00 Tōdai-ji Museum April – October November – March 9:30 – 17:30 9:30 – 17:00 Admission and hours are accurate according to the Todai-ji Website. Tōdai-ji Namdaimon (Grand South Gate) When visiting Tōdai-ji, the first thing you will notice is the Tōdai-ji Namdaimon or Grand South Gate. Tōdai-ji Namdaimon is the main gate to access Namdaimon. The Grand South Gate was constructed in the year 752 but was destroyed by a typhoon. The current gate visitors see today was built in 1203 and it reaches 25 meters in height and is the largest temple gate in Japan. One of the most notable features of Tōdai-ji Namdaimon are the two guardians known as Ni-ō (Two Kings) of Tōdai-ji. These imposing statues are 8.4 meters in height. Tōdai-ji Museum It is well worth purchasing the combined Great Buddha Hall and Tōdai-ji Museum joint pass for ¥1,000. The museum can be accessed prior to the Great Buddha Hall right after crossing the Tōdai-ji Namdaimon. Tickets for the museum and The Great Buddha Hall can be purchased either at the museum or at Tōdai-ji. The museum is a modern complex with a cafe, restrooms, and rest area. The museum itself is not large, I’d say you can get through it in 30 minutes or an hour depending on how much you read. The Tōdai-ji museum holds treasures and important artifacts from Tōdai-ji and many of these items are on display. You can see Gigaku Masks from the 8th century and several statues of Buddha from the 8th and 9th centuries. Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) To me, the most impressive building in all of Nara is Daibutsuden, the Great Buddha Hall. You simply can’t fathom the size of this building until actually seeing it in person. It’s mind blowing! This is the main hall of Tōdai-ji and it is home to the Great Buddha, Vairocana Buddha (Daibutsu). For starters, the Great Buddha Hall was originally constructed in 752. The wooden building was destroyed a few times by fire. Today’s Great Buddha Hall is from the Edo Period and is considered to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Just south of Nara City in Nara Prefecture is Horyu-ji, considered the oldest wooden structures in the world. So Nara is home to both the largest and oldest wooden structures. When entering the Great Buddha Hall, you instantly see Vairocana Buddha, the Great Buddha. The Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji is one of the world’s largest seated statues, 15 meters in height. Conclusion Visiting Tōdai-ji in Nara needs to be added to everyone’s Japan itinerary. From the historical and impressive wooden building to the imposing Great Buddha statue there is so much to appreciate. Tōdai-ji remains my favorite temple in Japan and seeing it a second time was even more awe inspiring. Do yourself a favor and add Nara to your itinerary and do not miss Tōdai-ji. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Exploring the Dark Side: Dark Tourism Sites Visited Around the World
Is dark tourism a growing trend among travelers around the world? Visitors seeking out attractions and locations that are associated with death, tragedy, bizarreness, and the macabre. Dark tourism includes visiting sites that are considered to be unordinary, tragic, and sometimes even scary. I myself have always been fascinated by dark tourism, even before it was a thing. I enjoy learning about the darker side of history and realizing that travel is not always pretty and perfect. This post we’ll take a look at some of the dark tourism sites I’ve visited around the world. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! ***Warning*** There are images and topics in this post some viewers might find disturbing. What is Dark Tourism? To me, dark tourism is defined as visiting attractions and places that involve some sort of tragedy or unusual place of interest. Everyone has their own version of what dark tourism truly is. To some it might be visiting a war museum and to others it can mean visiting a site of immense tragedy. Dark tourism generally involves traveling to places or visiting attractions that are associated with death, catastrophe, haunted places, locations where horrific events occurred, or even places with bizarre artifacts and unusual oddities. When it comes down to it, every traveler has visited a dark tourist spot whether it be the catacombs in Paris and ruins of Pompeii in Italy or the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima. Dark Tourism Sites We’ve Visited I’ve always been fascinated by dark tourism. I’d say I have morbid curiosity when it comes to traveling. I enjoy learning and seeing as much as possible, both good and bad. Traveling is not always pretty. Many people travel to Poland just to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau or maybe to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to catch a glimpse of Ötzi the Iceman. I’ve found myself traveling to destinations specifically for a dark tourist attraction, like the Mummies of Guanajuato in Mexico or paying a visit to the Yde Girl in Assen, Netherlands. If you are like me and curious about dark tourism, here is a list of dark tourism sites around the world that I have personally visited broken down by region. Asia Cambodia Siem Reap Killing Fields The Siem Reap Killing Fields are a tragic reminder about Cambodia’s dark history under the Khmer Rouge regime. Located between downtown Siem Reap and Angkor Wat is the Killing Fields of Siem Reap and this museum serves as a memorial to the victims of the Cambodia genocide. Today, visitors can go to the Killing Fields and learn about the atrocities that took place here. Some of the information and depictions are pretty graphic. There is well here on the site where upwards to 50 to 60 bodies were recovered from. There is also a mass grave site. Japan Aokigahara Forest (Japan’s Suicide Forest) When it comes to dark tourism, Japan’s Aokigahara Forest or informally known as Japan’s “Suicide Forest” is probably one of the world’s most famous sites. Known around the world as the “Suicide Forest,” Aokigahara Forest unfortunately received this name due to the high volume of suicides that occur at this location. Aokigahara Forest has been the subject of many horror films, folklore, and stories. Today, anyone can visit Japan’s “Suicide Forest.” Honestly, the forest is quite beautiful. There are hiking trails throughout the forest and visitors can even explore Narusawa Ice Cave and Wind Cave. Okinawa Battle Sites During the Battle of Okinawa, anywhere from 12,000 Americans and over 100,000 Japanese lost their lives. The island of Okinawa has a long history, unfortunately WWII is one of the most notable historical events that occurred on and around Okinawa. Some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific occurred on Okinawa. There are many sites in Southern Okinawa related to the war that can be visited today. I’m surprised dark tourists don’t flock to Okinawa. Some of the famous sites include Hacksaw Ridge, the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, and the Peace Memorial Museum. The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters is not to be missed especially if seeking out the darker side of history. Visitors can walk through the tunnels and view some of the special rooms. One room that stood out to me had holes all over the walls and ceiling from a grenade that was used by an officer to end their life. Hiroshima and Nagasaki Besides visiting Aokigahara Forest, dark tourists will most likely find themselves visiting either the cities of Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Both cities were devastated by atomic bombs during WWII and there are still remnants remaining around each city left as a reminder of the devastation that took place. If visiting Hiroshima, you can pay a visit to the hypo center, A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Honkawa Elementary School, and Bank of Japan. Although Nagasaki is less visited then Hiroshima, there are many sites related to the war that are of interest. Visitors can go to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. Sokushin-Butsu (Buddhist Mummies in Japan) Japan might be one of the last countries you’d think would have mummies. But in northern Japan in Yamagata Prefecture, there are Sokushin-Butsu, which is a Buddhist Mummy. I am definitely interested in visiting dark tourist sites in Japan. I visited the Buddhist Temple of Dainichibou while on a road trip through the Prefecture of Yamagata. This temple has the mummified remains of Shinnyokai-Shounin. According to information at the temple, Shinnyokai-Shounin was a Buddhist Monk during the Edo period who became a Sokushin-Butsu. These monks sacrificed their lives and practiced ascetic disciplines according to the temple. The monks would not eat grain, instead they ate nuts, tree roots, bark, wild plants, among other natural edibles. They then fasted on saltwater for 42 days and drank Urushi (An ingredient in lacquer) basically beginning the mummify process while still alive. After self mummification, Shinnyokai-Shounin buried himself alive. Again, according to the temple, after 1,000 days of being buried, the body would be exhumed. Today, visitors can go to Dainichibou and see the mummified body of Shinnyokai-Shounin sitting there. You can partake in rituals. Just be warned, photographs of the mummy are not allowed. Vietnam Hoa Lo Prison No trip to Hanoi, Vietnam is complete without a visit to Hoa Lo Prison. Vietnam has many dark tourist sites, mainly around Ho Chi Minh City but Hanoi has its fair share like the Vietnam Military Museum or the notorious Hoa Lo Prison. Hoa Lo Prison, or “The Hanoi Hilton,” is a historical prison that was built in the late 1800’s during the French occupation. First, the prison was built to house political prisoners. Then it was used by the Vietnamese as a prison for US prisoners of war. During the French occupation, Hoa Lo Prison was a place of nightmares. Prisoners were kept in horrendous conditions where sickness spread, food was poor, and the prison was at max capacity. Europe Croatia Froggyland More bizarre then dark is the Museum of Froggy Land in Split, Croatia. While exploring Split, we stumbled upon this museum by accident and of course our curiosity led us to visit one of the more bizarre museums I’ve ever visited. Froggy Land is a museum in Split, Croatia. The museum has taxidermied frogs on display. Each display has several taxidermied frogs that appear to be doing human day to day activities like going to school, working in a shop, or getting into some sort of trouble. According to the Froggy Land website, the collection consists of 507 stuffed frogs. Germany Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was a 155 Kilometer (96 Miles) long wall that separated West Berlin from East Berlin. The Berlin Wall was nearly built overnight on August 13, 1961 separating neighborhoods and even families in an instant. The Berlin Wall was heavily guarded and guards were ordered to shoot on sight if anyone attempted to flee into Western Germany. Overall, around 140 people lost their lives before it finally fell on November 9, 1989. Today, there are portions of the Berlin Wall that still stand in certain parts of the city. Medieval Crime Museum (Rothenburg Torture Museum) Who doesn’t love a good torture museum? Well, the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber has thousands of exhibits related to history, humiliation, punishment, and torture. You can spend hours at this museum viewing the shame masks, torture devices, and other historical artifacts. There is even an Iron Maiden on display and various types of axes and swords used for beheadings. Italy Capuchin Crypt in Rome In Rome, visit the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. This is the site of the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars. The museum itself was interesting, you get an audio guide and learn about the Capuchin Friars. But the reason I visited the church was to check out the crypt. The crypt is decorated with the skeletal remains of over 4,000 Capuchin friars. In the crypt there are interesting displays from bone chandeliers to wall art made from the bones of the Capuchin friars. Rome Colosseum If you think of the Roman Colosseum, you probably would not think of it as a dark tourist site. In my opinion, it fits the whole concept of “Dark Tourism” based on the historical events that took place. Think about it, you are visiting a monumental site known around the world, the Roman Colosseum which was home to brutal gladiator battles, public executions, and animal hunts where at times tens of thousands of animals were slaughtered. The colosseum although impressive is kind of a symbol of violence and human suffering. Netherlands Bog Bodies of Europe I took a road trip from northern Germany to Assen, Netherlands, just to visit the Drents Museum and see the Yde Girl. The Netherlands has plenty of dark tourist sites and seeing the Yde Girl, a Bog Body is one of them. Bog bodies are mummified bodies that have been discovered in bogs, primarily in Northern Europe to include the United Kingdom. Bog bodies can be thousands of years old. Many of them, so well preserved they have been mistaken for recent murder victims. The Yde Girl is a well preserved bog body at Assen’s Drents Museum, in the Archaeology Department. The Yde Girl was dug up in the Netherlands in 1897. Found with a noose around her neck, which appeared to be quite common among other bod bodies, she most likely died from being a victim of sacrifice or from wounds inflicted of being tortured. Veenhuizen: National Prison Museum Another dark tourist site in the Netherlands is the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen. We stopped at the prison museum while en route to the beautiful city of Groningen. What we know and see today as the National Prison Museum in Veenhuizen was at one point an actual prison housing criminals. The prison is pretty interactive and starts off with torture and forms of punishments that date back hundreds of years. From here you can walk through the rest of the prison. Visitors can see what cells where like, get to know, more like read about some of the prisoners that stayed here in the past, and learn a little about the Netherlands past and current legal systems. Poland Auschwitz-Birkenau One of the most intense, sad, and chilling places I’ve ever visited has to be Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. Auschwitz is huge, you can spend most the day here walking around the concentration camp. Visitors will see the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign, Gate to Auschwitz, crematoriums, barracks, the “death wall,” gallows, and even the site where Josef Mengele performed medical experiments. Some of the rooms that really hit me hard were the evidence rooms showing piles among piles of items that
Taking the Express Trains from Taipei to Hualien
Taipei and Hualien are both very popular destinations to visit in Taiwan. One of the best ways to travel between Taipei and Hualien is by Express Train. The trains connecting the two cities offer an enjoyable ride with breathtaking views of mountains and ocean. The express trains from Taipei to Hualien offer comfortable seating, convenient schedules, and affordable prices. This post shares our personal experience riding the express trains from Taipei to Hualien and how we booked our tickets. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Booking Train Tickets from Taipei to Hualien Booking a train ticket online via the Taiwan Railway e-booking app is easy and hassle free. The app is through Taiwan Railway. I found it easiest to find train stations and timetables using the Taiwan Railway website. On the Taiwan Railway site, you can enter in your departure and arrival stations. From Taipei Main Station (Station Code: 1000) to Hualien (Station Code: 7000) there are many Express trains that leave throughout the day. I recommend booking the Taroko Express or T.C. Ltd. Express. The travel time from Taipei Main Station to Hualien Station with the express train is around 2 – 2.5 hours. We ended up booking our tickets through the Taiwan Railway website and transferred our bookings to the Taiwan Railway e-booking app. Once the Taiwan Railway e-booking app is set up, you can access your current tickets, bookings, and view booking history. The active tickets will show on the app with a QR code that can be used at the gate. Train tickets for the express trains from Taipei to Hualien cost 440 TWD ($13.94) one way. What are the Express Trains Like The express trains in Taiwan at least between Taipei and Hualien we about what I expected. I didn’t expect Shinkansen type trains like in Japan, but something in between a local train and Shinkansen. That is exactly what the Taroko Express and T.C. Ltd Express was like. The express trains in Taiwan were on time. I had reserved seats and was surprised by the spacious area and comfortable seats. The express trains had restrooms on board that were about as clean as you’d expect for a train. There was on board service. Here and there, a vendor would walk down the aisle selling treats, meals, and drinks. Overall, I was very satisfied with the express trains between Taipei and Hualien. I found them to be very comfortable, spacious, clean, and punctual. Hualien Day Tours Once you get to Hualien, you are probably wondering what there is to do? There are numerous things to do in Hualien but most visit Hualien to check out the stunning Taroko National Park. There are many day tours to Taroko Gorge from either Taipei or Hualien. So after getting off the express train from Taipei to Hualien, why not let a guide take care of the rest? We booked a private tour to Taroko Gorge and highly recommend it. I learned so much about Taroko Gorge, Hualien, and Taiwan. We booked this Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City. Here are other similar tours that are worth looking in to. One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City Hualien & Taroko Gorge Shared Tour from Hualien Conclusion Taking the express train from Taipei to Hualien is in my opinion the best and most convenient way to travel between the two cities. The Taiwan Railway e-booking app made booking and purchasing tickets a breeze. Given the comfort of the chairs, stunning views out the window, and option to purchase snacks and beverages onboard, made taking the train from Taipei to Hualien and vice versa an enjoyable and hassle free experience. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Things to do in Hualien: From Taroko Gorge to Night Markets
Most visitors will travel to Hualien from Taipei to do a Taroko Gorge Day Tour. It is highly recommended to see Taroko National Park, but Hualien is far from just a quick place to stay while visiting the gorge. Hualien offers a range of things to do from spotting beautiful beaches full of colored marble stones to trying delicious snacks at the Dongdamen Night Market. If you are wondering what there is to do in Hualien? I spent three days here exploring the area. Here are my recommendations and top things to do in Hualien. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting from Taipei to Hualien Taipei to Hualien is an easy and very inexpensive journey. There are several different ways to travel from Taipei to Hualien. Renting and driving a car is an option. You can book a tour or private driver, or take a train which in my opinion is the easiest and cheapest mode of transportation to reach Hualien from Taipei. We took a train from Taipei Main Station directly to Hualien Station. Depending on the train, the trip to Hualien can take anywhere from 2 to 4 or more hours. We ended up taking the Express Trains, the T. C. Ltd Express to Hualien and the Taroko Express back to Taipei for a whopping NTD 440 or about $14 a person one way. The express trains take about 2 – 2.5 hours and make very few stops along the route. Recommended Hotels in Hualien Unless you are just doing a day trip to Hualien from Taipei to visit Taroko National Park, you will most likely stay at a hotel in Hualien for at least one night. Agoda has many excellent hotels in Hualien that are suited for anyone’s price range. We stayed at the Full Kind Hotel and loved our two nights stay here. The Full Kind Hotel was centrally located, close to great restaurants and shops, ad spacious rooms, comfortable beds, and a great breakfast spread every morning. The hotel was within walking distance to Dongdamen Night Market and there was a 7-Eleven next door. If searching for hotels in Hualien, I recommend booking through Agoda and we were very satisfied with our hotel stay at Full Kind Hotel. Top Things to do in Hualien Cities in Taiwan like Hualien are a nice change of pace from cities like Taipei or even Jiufen. Hualien felt less touristy and a bit more authentic. Although there are no grand attractions in Hualien, besides Taroko National Park, there is still plenty to do and see in Hualien. After spending two days in Hualien, here is a list of our recommendations of top things to do and experience in Hualien. 1. Taroko National Park Perhaps one of Taiwan’s most beautiful natural parks, Taroko National Park, is a canyon famous for its near vertical cliffs, turquoise blue rivers, and stunning hiking trails. Taroko National Park is near Hualien and is free to visit. Must do things at Taroko National Park include hiking the Shakadang Trail, visiting the Eternal Spring Shrine, walking across the Buluowan Suspension Bridge, going to the Tunnel of Nine Turns, and finishing the day at Swallow Grotto. Interested in reading more about Taroko Gorge? I have a post dedicated to Taroko National Park Day Tours. 2. Dongdamen Night Market Like the night markets in Taipei, Hualien does have a night market called Dongdamen Night Market. Each night we stayed in Hualien, we had dinner at the Dongdamen Night Market. There are just to many delicious things to try here. Dongdamen Night Market occupies a huge space in central Hualien. There are many permanent and covered vendors here selling a wide range of foods. We tried everything from Tofu Fries and slices of bacon to Taiwanese Burgers and Green Onion Pancakes with an Egg. Honestly, everything we had was delicious. 3. Local Markets Like night markets in Taiwan, there are also great markets that pop up in the mornings. Expect to find more fruits and vegetables for sale, seafood, and other goods for daily use bought by locals. I love strolling through morning markets and trying unique foods. The markets in Hualien seemed to be in different locations around the city. There were some near the Dongdamen Night Market and others close to our hotel. 4. Taipingyang Park and the Coast Line Looking to take a relaxing stroll along the coast in Hualien? Or have kids and want to drain their energy quickly? I’d recommend visiting Taipingyang Park and the nearby beach. Picture a beach with white sand, crystal clear and calm waters, with palm trees and a guy selling coconuts. Well, this is not that kind of beach! Instead, the water here is pretty intense, the beach is full of huge marble boulders, and swimming is not advised. Doesn’t sound like your ideal beach, but I found it fascinating to walk on and look at all the beautiful rocks. The Hualien area is known for marble so a lot of pretty colored marble rocks rest on the beaches here. Taipingyang Park is more of a park for children. The playground equipment looked well maintained and a dream come true for kids. 5. Qixingtan Beach When we took our Taroko National Park Day Tour, the first stop was at Qixingtan Beach. Qixingtan Beach is just north of the city on the northern tip of Hualien Airport. Qixingtan Beach is a long beach with incredible views of the mountains in the background and beautiful shades of blue and green water. Although swimming is not advised here due to rough currents, it is a nice beach to walk on and enjoy the views! 6. Riverside Park Hualien had a lot of green space. Along the river that flows through town, there is a nice river walk and network of trails and parks. We took one of the trails from Jinghua Bridge to the Martyrs Shrine and it was a pleasant walk. There were fisherman in the river, kids on bikes, and people out on their daily dog walks. 7. Pine Garden One attraction in Hualien that intrigued me was the Pine Garden. According to signs posted at the site, the Pine Garden is a historic site in Hualien and was a former Japanese Command Center. The building was constructed in 1942 to recruit and manage military servicemen. After WWII, the Japanese left Taiwan and the KMT government took over. In 2003, the Pine Garden and building was officially open to the public. Today, visitors can walk the grounds, go inside the main building, walk through a bomb shelter, browse the shops, or sit and have a beer or treat at the cafe. 8. Shop If shopping is your thing, then Hualien has plenty of shops and fun stores that are worth browsing. Gongyuan and Zhonghua Rd were full of shops, I personally enjoyed the shops selling treats so I could bring stuff back to friends and family. But there is a wide range of shops here from souvenir stores to high end stores like Rolex. 9. Bubble Tea You can’t go to Taiwan and not have Bubble Tea. It’s like going to Japan and not trying Sushi, it just doesn’t make sense. For how big Hualien was, there were a ton of Bubble Tea shops. Just keep in mind most Bubble Tea places didn’t open until 10 – 11 am. Most Bubble Tea shops had similar drinks. What surprises us, is how cheap Bubble Tea is in Taiwan. Two large drinks can cost anywhere from $2 – $3.50. 10. Foot Massage If visiting Taiwan, you cannot leave without having a foot massage. Even a city like Hualien had great foot massage places all over town. We tend to walk a lot, so our feet are always tired. Every time we visit Taiwan, we end our night with a foot massage. I mean they are so affordable compared to other massage parlors around the world. Do yourself a favor and get a foot massage when visiting Hualien. Conclusion Hualien kind of flies under the radar as a destination when visiting Taiwan. If it weren’t for Taroko Gorge, Hualien would get close to no tourism and visitors. But Hualien offers visitors much more and it’s an easy train ride from Taipei. In Hualien, you can find a lot of the classic Taiwan must try experiences, like night markets and foot massages. Hualien also has incredible landscapes, beautiful beaches, and an interesting history. So maybe next time you visit Taiwan, add Hualien to your itinerary. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Taroko National Park Day Tour: Hiking, Culture, and Natural Beauty
Located in Taiwan’s Hualien County, Taroko National Park is a stunningly beautiful canyon that attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the world. Famous for its near vertical mountains, lush forests, and turquoise blue rivers, Taroko National Park is a must see natural attraction when visiting Taiwan. A Taroko National Park Day Tour is the perfect way to explore this park, stress and hassle free. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! History of Taroko National Park Geological The geological history of Taroko National Park is far to complex for me to go in depth. Taroko Gorge was formed by erosion and uplifting occurring over millions of years. The Liwu River caused most of the erosion seen at the gorge today. Taiwan sits on top of the Philippine and Eurasian plates. The collision of these plates is still uplifting much of Taiwan. There are 285 mountains in Taiwan that are 3,000 meters or higher. While exploring Taroko Gorge, you will notice a lot of limestone and marble. What is especially interesting is marble is found on one side of the road while limestone is on the opposite side. Cultural Although the geology of Taroko Gorge is fascinating, I found the cultural history even more interesting. While on our day tour to Taroko National Park, our guide gave us a lot of great information regarding Taiwan’s history and the people that first settled Taiwan. There are 16 indigenous tribes that call Taiwan home. One tribe, The Taroko (Truku) inhabited the area we now call Taroko National Park, according to our guide. The Taroko tribe lived in the Taroko Gorge area using the steep mountains as protection. Their huts were fairly advanced and well suited for hot summer months and cooler winter temperatures. Males in the tribes hunted game while the women excelled in weaving. Each gender had facial tattoos that were only achieved by excelling in their crafts and hunting skills. There is a great museum with displays of what the Taroko Tribal members looked like and their homes at the Buluowan Suspension Bridge. You can also visit the Taroko National Park Website for more information. Getting to Hualien from Taipei Traveling to Hualien from Taipei? It’s actually really easy and cheap. Obviously, there are numerous ways to travel to Hualien. You can rent a car, cycle (I’ve had friends that have done that), or take trains. I recommend the latter. We took a train from Taipei Main Station directly to Hualien Station. Depending on the train, the trip to Hualien can take anywhere from 2 to 4 or more hours. We ended up taking the Express Trains, the T. C. Ltd Express to Hualien and the Taroko Express back to Taipei for a whopping NTD 440 or about $14 a person one way. The express trains take about 2 – 2.5 hours and make very few stops along the route. How to Get to Taroko National Park Hualien is the nearest and most accessible city to Taroko National Park. You can visit Taroko National Park from Taipei as a day trip, but I recommend staying in Hualien and making the most out of a day at Taroko Gorge. Taroko National Park is free to visit and there are a couple ways to visit the park as a tourist. The main options to visit the park are by bus, taxi, rental car, scooter, or through a tour. Visiting by Bus If visiting Taroko Gorge by bus, there are a few routes within the park with bus stops. Using the bus is a cheap option, but does take planning. Visitors have to come up with a plan, know the bus route, and know the bust stop locations. The Taroko National Park website does have a Bus Timetable. Visiting by Rental Car or Scooter Car and scooter rentals are other popular means of transportation to access Taroko National Park. In fact, we did see quite a few rental cars and other travelers on scooters. The positive of having your own rental car is it gives you flexibility within the park. Note, many of the roads are narrow and traffic picks up late morning into the afternoon. If you are not an experienced driver, the narrow roads, sharp corners, buses, and other hazards can be a bit challenging to navigate. Visiting by Tour My recommended way to see many of the top sites and attractions within Taroko National Park are through Private Tour. Booking with a private tour allows you to see the main sites stress free at a steady pace. Not to mention you learn a lot about the park and Taiwan in general if you have a good guide. The next section is all about our tour we booked for Taroko Gorge. Taroko National Park Day Tour I personally think the best way to experience the magnificent Taroko National Park is by booking a day tour with a local guide or company. Lately, all my trips have been booked through Viator. Viator is easy to use, you can view the trip itinerary, and read through reviews. I ended up booking the Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City and could not have asked for a better day and tour guide. Our guide, Jason picked us up promptly and took us to all the Taroko National Park highlights listed below. He had a nice car, was very knowledgeable, and was passionate about his home country of Taiwan. I learned more from Jason regarding both the park and Taiwan then I have on all my previous trips to Taiwan combined. Jason did a great job hiking with us. He wasn’t to quick or to slow, he knew the perfect spots for photos, and gave us separation so we could explore a bit on our own. Here are some tours to Taroko National Park through Viator. Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City Taroko Gorge Day Tour from Taipei by Train One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien Shared Full Day Tour of Hualien Taroko National Park from Taipei Taroko National Park Highlights There are so many highlights and must see sites that make Taroko National Park a must visit destination in Taiwan. A day tour to Taroko Gorge is sufficient to see the main sites and most tours will make the same stops within the park. Below are the Taroko National Park highlights that we stopped at on our day tour. Shakadang Trail The Shakadang Trail in Taroko National Park follows the Shakadang River. This trail was actually built by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation. The Shakadang Trail was the first stop on our Taroko National Park day tour. There is a parking lot with a toilet on the opposite side of the bridge were the trail begins. The Shakadang Trail is an easy trail, no experience required. It is well maintained, flat, and very scenic. The trail follows the turquoise water of the Shakadang River below. About a kilometer or so from the entrance there are a couple huts here that sell food and souvenirs. Make sure to try the world famous sausage from one of the stalls. Apparently a 3 star Michelin chef came here and raved about the peppercorn sausages made here. I’ll be honest, it was a really good sausage. Eternal Spring Shrine The next stop on our Taroko Gorge day tour was the Eternal Spring Shrine. This picturesque shrine was built as a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives while building the Central Cross-Island Highway. If looking at the shrine, to the right is a steep cliff with evidence of landslides. The shrine was destroyed twice at the same location, so they moved the location of the shrine to the left above the waterfalls. Indigenous Lunch at Dnamux Truku Want to try an Indigenous lunch? Our guide took us to a local restaurant called Dnamux Truku. Dnamux Truku specializes in indigenous meals using local ingredients and traditional methods to prepare the food. The lunch was incredible. I had the Wild Boar lunch with bamboo rice. I could not have asked for a more satisfying meal. The platter came out on a giant leaf with a nice mix of fresh fermented vegetables and just enough meat. The banana rice served with the meal was incredible as well. Buluowan Suspension Bridge After lunch we headed to the Buluowan (Shanyue) Suspension Bridge. Our guide mentioned this was his favorite part of the Taroko Gorge tour and after visiting the bridge I can see why. The Shanyue Suspension Bridge crosses the Liwu River and is considered to be the longest bridge within the park. According to a sign at the park, the bridge is 196 meters in length, 2.5 meters wide, and sits 152 meters above the river. The bridge is free to access. Apparently it gets crowded in the afternoon since they only allow a few hundred people on it at a time. My recommendation is, have an earlier lunch and beat the afternoon crowd. We did and there was no wait time and hardly anyone on the bridge. Tunnel of Nine Turns One of my favorite stops on our Taroko Gorge day tour was the Tunnel of Nine Turns. This is or was a part of the Central Cross-Island Highway and was a busy road. Due to the condition of the road and environmental events the road was turned into a trail. There is no parking at the trail, visitors must be dropped off and picked back up. The trail to the end was not long but the scenic viewpoints were absolutely incredible. Sheer cliffs gave way to crystal clear water below and waterfalls. Swallow Grotto The final stop on our Taroko Gorge tour was at Swallow Grotto. Strap on your helmets and pay attention to the safety signs because this area can be dangerous. This narrow section of the canyon is lined with sheer cliffs towering over the Liwu River. Visitors can walk a road that turns into a suspended walkway right over the cliff. The views and scenery here is incredible. But watch out for falling rocks. Taroko Gorge Facts The park was established on November 28, 1986. According to the Taroko National Park website, the park is 36 km north to south and 42 km east to west. Many of the rocks found at Taroko Gorge include: Marble, Gneiss, and Schist. There are many animals that call the park home. Some animal species found here include: Asian Black Bear, Rock Macaque, Sambar Deer, snakes, and many types of birds. Many mountains within the park are 3,000 m or higher. The indigenous Taroko tribe called the area home. Be careful of falling rocks. Wear protective gear. There are signs all over the place warning about falling rocks and not to linger. Conclusion Taroko National Park is truly one of the most beautiful destinations I’ve visited. The near vertical marble cliffs, turquoise river, and dramatic landscapes make Taroko Gorge a must visit destination, especially when visiting Taiwan. If you love the outdoors, hiking, and exploring, Taroko National Park is for you. Learning about the history and culture of the indigenous people that called this place home add to the park’s allure. I highly recommend visiting Taroko National Park and Taiwan in general. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
16 Things to do in Taipei: Must-Do Attractions and Experiences
Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan is a historic yet modern city that blends old traditions with new modernity. From towering skyscrapers like Taipei 101 to the ancient temple of Bangka Lungshan and the natural beauty of Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei has something for everyone. Whether you are into museums, love trying new food, interested in hiking, or simply want to relax and get a massage, Taipei has it all! This post will guide you through some of the top things to do in Taipei. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Top Things to do in Taipei Are you looking for some of the top things to do in Taipei? Or perhaps things to do in Taipei at night? Or just looking for tourist attractions in Taipei that are worthwhile? I’ve been to Taipei 7 times now and have come up with a list of my most recommended things to do in Taipei. 1. Visit the National Palace Museum Taiwan’s National Palace Museum is one of Taiwan’s most prominent and visited attractions. This museum is said to have the best collection of Chinese arts in the world. Two famous artifacts here include the “Jade Cabbage” and “Pork Belly Jade.” After visiting the museum, make sure to stroll through Zhishan Garden. This free Chinese garden is the perfect place to visit after the museum. For more information on the National Palace Museum, feel free to visit the website. Admission: NT $350Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, Closed on Mondays 📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 2. Hike Yangmingshan National Park If interested in hiking in and around Taipei, I found that Yangmingshan National Park was one of the best hikes and National Parks to escape the city and find yourself peacefully surrounded by some of Taiwan’s most beautiful nature. Visitors can get to Yangmingshan National Park entirely by using public transportation. When I visited this national park, I went to Ximen Station in Wanhua District and then took the Brown Line to Dahu Park Station. From Dahu Park Station, I walked directly into the national park. For me, the highlight besides the beautiful surrounding mountains, was a chance to see wild water buffalo. 3. Try Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup is a beloved national dish that is a must try when visiting Taipei. Beef Noodle Soup consists of tender beef, hearty noodles, and a rich broth. I’d recommend trying Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup for lunch one day, that way you can visit a night market in Taipei at night. One place that serves Beef Noodle Soup that I really like is Liang Pin Beef Noodles near the intersection of Kaifeng Street and Huaining Street. 4. Take a Day Trip From Taipei I usually recommend at least 2-3 days in Taipei. But if you are staying longer or itching to see more of Taiwan, there are day trips from Taipei that are easy to get to and drastically different from the main city. Venturing from Taipei offers a treasure trove of amazing landscapes, small mountain towns, cultural landmarks, amazing geological phenomena, and so much more. An easy train or bus ride from Taipei, visitors can see places like Houtong Cat Village, Yehliu Geopark, and Jiufen. 5. Take the Elevator Up Taipei 101 Visiting Taipei 101 is a must when visiting Taipei. Taipei 101 stands tall and proud and dominates the cityscape. Standing at 508m (1,667 ft), with 101 floors, this skyscraper is one of the world’s tallest buildings. Taipei 101 has observation decks for visitors on the 89th floor. With 360-degree views, it is truly the best view of Taipei. One of the most fascinating things to see at Taipei 101 is the Damper. The damper here is the largest in the world and is completely visible to visitors. For those that don’t know, a damper is basically a pendulum that offsets movement of the building due to strong winds or earthquakes. 6. Sample Food at the Night Markets When going to Taiwan, one of my favorite things to do is going to the Night Markets in Taipei. Night markets are scattered throughout the city and have some of Taipei’s best, cheapest, and most unique foods to try. So if you are a foodie like me, it’s paradise. Night Markets in Taipei generally pop up around 17:00 and can stay open past 24:00 depending on the market. Some of my favorite markets, which I go into detail in my night markets in Taipei post, include Guangzhou Street Night Market, Huaxi Street Night Market, Linjiang Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, Raohe Street Night Market, Shilin Night Market and Ximen Night Market. When visiting Taipei’s night markets, I always recommend walking through the market first to see what food stands out, then go back and start hitting the stalls. Generally, there will be a small line, you order your food and can stand near the stall to eat or walk around. I like standing nearby, so I can throw my trash away with the vendor. 📸 Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 7. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of Taipei’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you are staying for 1 day or 3 days in Taipei, a visit to the memorial is a must! The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is a memorial to one of Taiwan’s most influential figures, Chiang Kai-shek. The Liberty Square area is massive here. Once you pass under the Liberty Square Arch, the massive National Concert Hall and National Theatre Hall can be seen on on the right and left side of Liberty Square. The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a white structure with an blue octagon shaped roof. Visitors can go inside the Memorial Hall, if lucky you can see the changing of the guards. 8. Check out Lungshan Temple During the Day and Night Located in Taipei’s Wanhua District and honestly an easy walk from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial is the Taipei’s most famous temple, the Lungshan Temple. If you decide not to walk to Lungshan Temple, there is a Lungshan Temple Subway Station along the Blue Line. Lungshan Temple is free to visit and worth seeing both during the day and night. I love how intricate and detailed the architecture of this temple is. The detail of everything is spectacular from the roof to the dragons. 9. Shop at Jianguo’s Flower and Jade Market Looking to escape the rain in Taipei? Or do you enjoying specialized markets and shopping for unique things? I recommend checking out the Jianguo Flower and Jade Markets. These market areas are found under the Jianguo Elevate Road and are quite expansive. You can spend hours here if desired as there are hundreds of vendors. The flower market consists of hundreds of vendors as well selling everything from Bonsai Trees to full on Sakura Trees. The Jade Market is everything jade, from jewelry and antiques to pictures and decorations. 10. Stroll and Visit the Museum at 228 Peace Memorial Park I love starting my morning off at 228 Peace Memorial Park. This park is always active, well maintained, and just plain beautiful. It’s within walking distance to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and other attractions in Taipei. This park is set as a reminder of those that lost their lives during the February 28 (228) incident that occurred in 1947. There are memorials set up throughout the park, lush green spaces, beautiful ponds, and the National Taiwan Museum. 11. Foot Massage: Perfect way to Relax at the End of the Day My younger self would never even think about getting a massage. On our first trip to Taipei, Jill kind of forced me in to it. Now, every time we visit Taipei, we get a foot massage at the end of every night and I can’t think of a better way to end the day, especially when walking and exploring the city all day. Foot massages in Taipei are very affordable. I’m talking like $10 – $20 for a 45 minute to 1 hour massage. Foot massage parlors are found all over the city, you don’t have to look very hard before spotting one. Typically, you’ll sit in a large comfy chair and start with a warm foot soak. Then one of the people at the parlor comes by and massages your feet and calves. It’s truly a wonderful and relaxing experience. 12. Bubble Tea: Refreshing Taiwanese Drink As iconic as anything else in Taipei is Bubble Tea. Bubble tea or boba tea is a very popular Taiwanese drink that combines yummy tea flavors with fun little tapioca pearls. You get a unique blend of refreshing flavors and fun textures with every gulp. Bubble tea shops are found throughout Taipei and the drink itself is very cheap here, just a couple bucks for a large drink. 50 Lan is one of our favorite bubble tea shops. 13. Lunar New Year: Lantern Festival If visiting Taipei in February or March, make sure to attend or grab a schedule of events and attractions for the celebrations. We’ve been to three Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei now and it’s always a spectacular show. Each year, the lantern festival in Taiwan is in a different city. So far I’ve attended the lantern festival in Taipei and Taoyuan. 14. Spend the Day at Taipei Zoo The Taipei Zoo is a nice zoo that is well worth a visit. The Taipei Zoo was much bigger then I expected, you could spend the whole day here. The Taipei Zoo is easily accessible by public transportation. It is at the Taipei Zoo subway station at the end of the Brown Line. General Admission for the Taipei Zoo was only NT$100 which comes out to like $3 USD. I really enjoyed the Formosan Animal Area and of course seeing the Giant Pandas. That’s right! There are Giant Panda’s at the Taipei Zoo. 15. Try a Pepper Cake from Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake It has become a tradition of mine. Now, every time I visit Taipei, I stop at Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake near Taipei Main Station for a freshly made Pepper Cake. These pepper cakes are one of my favorite snacks in Taipei. Wondering what even is a pepper cake? It’s a flaky baked bun, usually baked in a cylindrical clay oven. The bun is filled with a marinated spiced meat, mixed with scallions, white pepper powder, and other ingredients. I’ve tried pepper cakes around Taiwan and find that Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake makes the best. They open at 11:00 am and there is usually a line already. It’s totally worth it. There is another Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake location at the Raohe Street Night Market. Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake Location: Address: No. 13, Section 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei CityCoordinates: 25.0469831, 121.5128111 16. Hike Elephant Mountain: Best Views of Taipei 101 If you are looking for the best views of Taipei 101 in Taipei, or that iconic shot of Taipei 101 with the city in the background, then prepare for a short hike up Elephant Mountain. Hiking Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) is a great hike in Taipei that takes anywhere from 15 minutes to well over an hour depending on the route you take and what you want to see. But one of the best views of Taipei 101 are from the Xiangshan Viewpoint, which is a short hike up Elephant Mountain. I did the SihShouShan Circular Hiking Trail which had many more viewpoints of Taipei 101. This hiking trail is popular at sunset and night because you can see the Taipei skyline. To get to the trailhead of Elephant Mountain, it’s easily accessible by MRT
8 Reasons why we Decided to Stay in Sanur, Bali
Sanur is a beach and resort town located on the southeastern coast of Bali, Indonesia. Sanur is known for it’s impressive resorts, white sand beaches, and local shops. Sanur is known to be more laid back, life is slower here, especially compared to some of the other bustling tourist destinations on the opposite side like Kuta and Seminyak. Sanur attracts a more mature crowd and it shows. We visited Sanur on our final few days of our vacation in Bali and wanted to relax and unwind. Doing research prior to our trip on places to stay in Bali, we decided to stay in Sanur and I want to share why we decided on staying in Sanur as opposed to other even more popular destinations in southern Bali. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! 8 Reasons to Stay in Sanur, Bali Sanur is a charming coastal town located in southern Bali. Many visitors come to Sanur to escape the younger crowds seen in other parts of Bali. It is said that Sanur draws a more mature crowd. That being said, Sanur has a laid back atmosphere with great beaches, luxurious resorts, local restaurants, and an abundance of fun shops to explore. Curious if it is worth staying in Sanur? I spent a few days in Sanur and wish to share 8 reasons why I think a stay in Sanur is a great decision when visiting southern Bali. 1. Easy Access to Ngurah Rai International Airport I stayed in Sanur on my final leg of my trip to Bali. One of the main reasons I decided to stay in Sanur was because of how close it was to Ngurah Rai International Airport. Artotel, where we stayed at in Sanur booked us a private driver to Bali’s international airport. The day we left, traffic was light and it only took 20 minutes to arrive at the airport. The southern end of Sanur is only about 13 Km from the airport. Just be cautious that traffic in Bali can be horrible, so plan your departure to the airport ahead of time. 2. Soft Sand Beaches with Pedestrian and Cycle Friendly Paths I wouldn’t say that the beaches at Sanur are the prettiest beaches in Bali, but they are lovely with an abundance of places to relax, enjoy the views, and fun beach activities. It’s popular to get up early in Sanur to watch the sunrise making it’s appearance above the horizon. Although I did not get in the water, I spend my mornings and evenings walking the lovely beach path that extends for several kilometers. The paths here are broken up for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the paths were luxurious resorts, good looking restaurants, and exciting beach bars. Traveling to Bali? Don’t Forget to Setup an eSIM before your trip. Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount. 3. Perfect for Day Trips Around Bali Sanur acts as a great base for exploring different parts of Bali. Most hotels and resorts will offer tour packages but there are tour booths found all over Sanur that offer day trips, diving excursions and other fun activities at low prices. Sanur is in a great location for day trips as it’s not far from places like Ubud, Penida Island, and Uluwatu. If interested in particular day trips n Bali, I have posts on East Bali Tour and a Bedugul Tour which explores central Bali. 4. Fabulous Resorts Walking up and down Sanur Beach, it is hard not to notice the lavish resorts. Many resorts in Sanur that back up to the beach have private restaurants, unique pools, and amazing vibes. I found one problem about Bali was booking hotels. There are literally hundreds of hotels and resorts that come up in the search result, so how do you narrow it down? We decided on the Artotel Sanur. This hotel was fabulous. Artotel Sanur was close to Sanur Beach and Jalan Danau Tamblingan. The breakfast was fabulous, it had a nice mix of Balinese and Western dishes. My favorite part was the infinity pool on the top deck. Arotel SanurAddress: Jl. Kusuma Sari No.1, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali 80227, Indonesia 5. Mature Crowd I read online prior to visiting Sanur that it attracts a lot of European visitors and a more mature crowd, especially compared to other coastal cities like Kuta. After staying in Sanur for a couple days, I can positively say that this is true, Sanur definitely has a more mature and older crowd. But don’t let the title of a mature town turn you away. Sanur has many bars, restaurants, and plenty for younger crowds to do. 6. Dining in Sanur: Restaurants and Places to Eat Sanur has plenty of delicious restaurants and food options. For cheaper food options, there is the Sindhu Night Market. The night market is a great place to come to and try local fruits and other fresh meals. I found that there was a nice mix of Balinese and Western restaurants in Sanur. We ate at a restaurant one evening called Little Mars. I ordered a dish called Nasi Campur which had a nice mix of meats and vegetables. For breakfast or a daily pastry, check our Daily Baguette Sanur. Their croissants and cookies make for the perfect mid day snack especially when paired with an ice coffee. Make sure to check out Lola’s Craft Beer Bar on Jalan Danau Tamblingan to sample local craft beer from around Bali. 7. Affordable Sanur is supposed to be a bit more expensive than other places around southern Bali, but we still found it to be very affordable. Everything from food to purchasing clothing was affordable. If looking for free things to do in Sanur, you can walk the beach, go for a swim in the ocean, or even catch a live show if performed on or near the beach. 8. Shopping, Shopping, Shopping I am not a huge shopper, but Jill is so we spent quite a bit of time walking up and down Jalan Danau Tamblingan. Jalan Danau Tamblingan is the main shopping street in Sanur. You can find everything here from dress shops to local crafts. Jill bought several dresses while shopping in Sanur. There is a shop here called Made in Bali. Ubud had one and there were a few others in Sanur. I actually bought a few tropical button up shirts here that I love. So I guess there really is something for everyone on Jalan Danau Tamblingan. Traveling to Bali? Don’t Forget to Setup an eSIM before your trip. Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount. Conclusion For travelers looking for a laid back and calm area in southern Bali, Sanur is highly recommended. In Sanur, life seems to be slower, more relaxed, yet very enjoyable. Sanur is known for its beaches, great Bali day trip options, unique accommodations, and so much more. There you have it, 8 reasons to stay in Sanur Bali. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇮🇩 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. eSIM Specifically for Bali 📱 Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount.
Staying in Amed, Bali: The Essential Traveler’s Guide
Are you looking to escape the touristy areas of Bali? Places like Kuta and Ubud are places in Bali are great to explore and unwind but southern Bali can feel crowded and at times, hectic. I found Amed, Bali to be the perfect mix of tranquil paradise hosting enough attractions to keep anyone busy for days. With its pristine volcanic black sand beaches, beautiful coral reefs, and stunning views of Mt. Agung, Amed is the perfect place to visit to relax and unwind. If planning on staying in Amed, This post details all you need to know, to include must visit attractions, finding a dive shop, recommended places to eat, and snorkeling the beautiful Amed Beach. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Amed, Bali: Amed was one of my favorite places in Bali. I came here to Scuba Dive and snorkel and it did not disappoint. Amed had a relaxed vibe with excellent restaurants and beautiful nature. Where to Stay in Amed: There are many nice places to stay in Amed. We stayed at the Oasis Hotel in Amed and loved it based on the location and unique rooms. If you are interested in snorkeling in Bali, consider booking a Snorkeling Trip to a Japanese Shipwreck or the Underwater Temple in Amed. Where is and Getting to Amed, Bali Amed is on Bali’s north eastern side of the island. Amed consists of several small fishing villages that run along the coastline. Getting to Amed is fairly straight forward, as it is a 2-3 hour drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport in southern Bali. From Ubud, it is about a 2 – 2.5 hour drive. Keep in mind traffic can be a huge influence on arrival times. From the airport, the main road hugging the cost line takes you past Manggis. Right after Bugbug Village, the road heading north takes you to Amed. Typically, the best way to get to Amed from others places around Bali is to simply hire a personal driver. We hired a driver on various occasions and found it to be cheap, easy, and hassle free. Staying in Amed, Where to Stay If staying in Amed, Bali chances are you are visiting this area for water activities such as diving or snorkeling or you want to escape the crowded places in southern Bali to relax on some of Bali’s best beaches. Amed is a growing community and many hotels are appearing along the coast line. Many dive shops even have accommodations. So when booking places in Amed, a lot comes down to your interests, budget, and needs. For me, I visited Amed strictly to dive the USAT Liberty Shipwreck and stayed here to explore more of East Bali. At the same time, I wanted a place that was centrally located, near Amed Beach, and a place that I could stay at that made me feel like I was on vacation. We ended up staying at Amed Oasis, and booked it through Agoda. We were pleasantly surprised. Amed Oasis had a pool, private rooms, breakfast, helpful staff, and was close to a dive shop, grocery store, and an abundance of restaurants. Amed Oasis blew my expectations and was exactly the type of hotel in Amed I was looking for. Tips and Helpful Information ✅ Amed is a newer tourist area. It wasn’t really built for tourism until recently. In fact, they are currently (2024) in the process of adding sidewalks throughout town. ✅ There is a grocery store in town called Solaluna Mart that had a lot of snacks, food items, and beverages. This place was quite popular. ✅ There are at least 3 ATMs in Amed, that we know of. There was one inside the Indomaret, one outside Solaluna Mart, and one inside Solaluna Mart. The one inside Solaluna Mart appeared to be the best working ATM in Amed. ✅ The beaches in Amed are very nice but trash does wash ashore. You even see plastic floating in the water. Be a good person and pick up trash when you see it. ✅ Amed and most of Bali does have a stray cat and dog problem. Be kind to the animals and help if needed. Traveling to Bali? Don’t Forget to Setup an eSIM before your trip. Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount. Things to do in Amed For a laid back fishing village located in East Bali, Amed offers plenty of things to do. Whether you are here just to go diving for the day or staying in Amed for multiple days, you definitely won’t get bored here. We stayed in Amed for 3 days and honestly, I could have stayed longer. In those 3 days, we managed to dive the USAT Liberty Shipwreck, went snorkeling at the black sand beaches in Amed, took a day trip around East Bali, and even managed to find time to get massages and relax. Here are a few of the recommended things to do in Amed. Dive at one of the Many Dive Sites near Amed Amed is a mecca for diving enthusiasts. With dive sites like the USAT Liberty Shipwreck or Jemeluk Reef, it’s no wonder people flock to Amed to check out the worlds most accessible shipwreck or come to see the beautifully vibrant coral reefs and marine life that calls this area home. In Amed, dive shops line the street, honestly most of the shops offer similar dives and competitive prices. I went with Bali Dive Cove based on the location to my hotel and was very pleased with their service, professionalism, and respect for Bali’s waters. Snorkel Amed Beach or Any Other Nearby Beach We stayed across the street from Amed Beach, so I made it a goal to snorkel Amed Beach daily. I’ve snorkeled beaches in so many amazing places around the world and this has to be among my favorites. The water or coral doesn’t look as healthy off the shores as Amed as other place I’ve snorkeled, but the marine life was next to none. I saw so many new species I’ve never seen before to include Mantis Shrimp, Garden Eels, Bluespotted Ribbon Rays, shrimp fish, and so much more. We even swam with a hawksbill sea turtle. The sea turtle frequented Amed Beach as we saw the same one every time we snorkeled. Traveling to Bali? Don’t Forget to Setup an eSIM before your trip. Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount. Recommended Places to Eat in Amed After spending several days in Amed, Bali I managed to try several restaurants both for lunch and dinner. Many of the warungs (small, family owned restaurant) in Amed offer freshly caught seafood and both Balinese and Western dishes. Many of the restaurants in Amed do cater to tourists but you can find a good mix of restaurants in Amed. Here are a few of the warungs we went to and highly recommend. Massimo Gelato: Perhaps the best ice cream in Amed? Massimo Gelato was located at the hotel I stayed at, so there was no reason to try ice cream anywhere else. Massimo Gelato is a chain ice cream shop in Bali, I saw another location in Sanur. The gelato here is fantastic with so many rich flavors. I had ice cream at Massimo Gelato every day I stayed in Amed, highly recommend! Moon Cafe: Located across the street from our hotel, Amed Oasis, was this little local restaurant serving fresh fish and local specialties. It was just one person working that night. Both Jill and I ordered the Fish of the day, which was grilled Mahi Mahi. Rimba Cafe: This cafe was next door to our hotel, Amed Oasis. We came here due to the high praises from Google Reviews. The outdoor seating area was lovely and the atmosphere was very laid back. We each ordered wraps. I had a fish wrap with fries and it was a delight. For lunch, the wraps were refreshing, filling, and most importantly, delicious! Small Point Cafe: Another great lunch spot in Amed was the Small Point Cafe. They specialize in Pizza, but I was looking for Fish and Chips. The fish was locally caught and the breading used was perfect. I’d love to come back here for some pizza, next time. Warung Bobo: Perhaps one of the more popular places we went to for dinner in Amed was Warung Bobo. Warung Bobo’s menu was extensive, they had everything from western food like burgers and ribs to Indonesian dishes like Aya Jamur and Ikan Goreng Saos Taoco. Conclusion Staying in Amed, Bali offers an incredible experience for those looking to escape the crowded touristy areas of Bali. Known for having some of the best dive sites in Bali, Amed is a destination that s somewhat off the beaten path, for now. If you are a diver, someone who loves the beach, or just want to explore a different part of Bali, Amed offers something for everyone. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇮🇩 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. eSIM Specifically for Bali 📱 Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount.
East Bali Tour: Ultimate Day Trip from Amed or Ubud
East Bali is packed with breathtaking landscapes, hidden gems, and famous Instagram spots. From visiting the mountain temple of Lempuyang to the stunning water palace of Taman Ujung, an East Bali tour makes for an incredible day trip from places like Amed and Ubud in Bali. Join us as we embark on an East Bali Tour and explore places like the Heaven Gate Temple, known as Lempuyang, visit a coffee plantation, walk the rice fields at Maha Gangga Valley, walk across the ponds at Tirta Gangga, and visit the water palace of Taman Ujung. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is East Bali When visiting Bali, most visitors will stay in southern Bali. Many visitors plan day trips to East Bali as it’s easily accessible from places like Ubud, Denpasar, and some of the other southern areas like Kuta and Uluwatu. According to Wikitravel, East Bali is a region of Bali that includes many beach towns, volcanos, and some of Bali’s most popular temples and palaces. More notable towns found in East Bali include Amed, Candidasa, Padang Bai, and Klungkung. From popular destinations in southern Bali like Sanur it can take anywhere from 1 hour to several hours to reach your destination in East Bali depending on where you decide on visiting. Booking an East Bali Tour If staying at a hotel in Bali that does tours, an East Bali Tour will usually be one of the options. We stayed in Ubud and Amed and both our hotels had day trips to East Bali. If like me, you like to book trips well in advance, Viator, offers several East Bali Tours. Below are a few specific East Bali Tours.• Best of East Bali Tour• Heaven of East Bali Private Guided Tour• Amed Sunset Tour – East Bali Day Trip• Lempuyang Temple and East Bali Private Tour I do recommend some of the private tours. In our experience, you get a personal driver and they drive you to each attraction. You can spend as little or as much time as you want at each attraction. East Bali Tour If you are looking for a unique and somewhat off the beaten path experience in Bali, I do recommend looking into an East Bali Tour. Some of Bali’s most famous attractions are located in East Bali. Lempuyang, also known as the Heaven Gate Temple is one of the most famous Instagram spots in Bali. Tirta Gangga is another one of Bali’s most photographed temples. In East Bali you can even stop at a coffee plantation to try Luwak Coffee and experience so much more. When we booked our East Bali Tour it included a stop at Lempuyang, Tirta Ganga, and the water palace of Taman Ujung. But with a private driver we were able to stop at the coffee plantation and even check out the rice fields at Maha Gangga Valley. Our day started early as our driver picked us up at 7:30 am in Amed. Below is our East Bali itinerary, this was one of the highlights from our trip to Bali, Indonesia. Lempuyang: Heaven Gate Temple The first stop on our East Bali Tour from Amed was Lempuyang, also know as the Heaven Gate Temple. Perched on top of a mountain adjacent from the majestic Mt. Agung, this temple offers breathtaking views and is considered one of Bali’s most famous Instagram spots, unfortunately! Many visitors coming from southern Bali or places like Ubud start their day early to get to Lempuyang. From Amed, it was about 45 minutes. At the bottom of the mountain, there is a parking area and shuttle buses that take you to the temple. The shuttle bus was around IDR 50,000 roundtrip and there was an additional fee to enter the temple. Once at Lempuyang, visitors can walk the temple grounds but there are some rules that must be met prior to entering. These rules are found on signs throughout the temple and are as followed: – All Visitors have to be purified by holy water– Women are not permitted to enter when menstruating– Sarong is mandatory – Shoulder and Back must be covered.– Do not climb the walls, platforms, or statues– If intending to pray, you are allowed inside the temple– Drones are prohibited– Avoid Yoga poses or any position where your feet are raised– Positive Thoughts and Language– No kissing– Baby before 105 days are not permitted to enter Once all the rules are met, you can access the grounds area. Many visitors come to Lempuyang to take that iconic Bali shot of the temple gates with Mt. Agung in the background and their perfect reflection. I’ll be honest, the reflection is not water, it’s a mirror that someone holds under your camera for that perfect reflection. Since this is such a popular spot and one of Bali’s most famous Instagram spots, the queue to get your photo taken can be anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. This was definitely not worth waiting for, so we just walked around and took photos before making our way back down the mountain. Tunas Bali Luwak Coffee Luwak coffee is a controversial topic and I don’t really support coffee plantations that have Luwak Coffee. For those that do not know, Luwak coffee is a special and rare coffee that uses coffee beans that is basically been “pooped” out of an animal known as the Asian Palm Civet. Prior to visiting Bali, I knew that these animals were abused around the world in the coffee industry. Just something I cannot get behind. That being said, our driver insisted that we stop at one of Bali’s most well known coffee plantations, Tunas Bali Luwak Coffee. The staff here was knowledgeable and you get to sit down and sample wonderful coffee flavors. The staff brought us a tray of 20 or so various coffee and teas to try. Honestly, it was all very good, we have everything from Mangosteen tea to Ginger Coffee. Maha Gangga Valley When visiting East Bali and interested in seeing rice terraces, then Maha Gangga Valley is a great option. Not far from Tirta Gangga is the touristy hot spot but very beautiful area of Maha Gangga Valley. Maha Gangga Valley, is another Bali Instagram location as the scenery is gorgeous and there are many fun things within Maha Gangga Valley that offer great photo opportunities, like giant swings and traditional houses. We visited Maha Gangga Valley to see the rice terraces. Although nothing compared to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, it was still fun to see the rice fields and explore Maha Gangga Valley. Tirta Gangga Perhaps one of Bali’s most famous and beautiful water palaces, Tirta Gangga is one of East Bali’s most prized and popular attractions. Tirta Gangga is a beautiful water palace known for water features, architecture, and nature. I loved the perfect blend of nature and water. Visitors are able to walk the stones across the beautiful ponds and even feed the Koi fish. Traveling to Bali? Don’t Forget to Setup an eSIM before your trip. Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount. Taman Ujung One of Bali’s most underrated attractions is the water temple of Taman Ujung. I say underrated, because after weeks of research, I never read nor heard about Taman Ujung. It just happened to be on my East Bali itinerary. Taman Ujung is one of Bali’s hidden gems that I think will surprise any visitor due to the amazing surrounding landscape, beautiful gardens, and the stunning white palace created on an island. Taman Ujung was built in 1909 by the Karangasem King as a retreat. Today visitors can walk inside the palace and tour the grounds of the beautiful Taman Ujung water palace. Conclusion An East Bali tour from Amed, Ubud, or southern Bali offers an unforgettable experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Bali’s culture, history, and natural beauty. From waking up early to explore or take a photo of Bali’s Heaven Gate to sampling coffee at a coffee plantation, an East Bai tour provides visitors with a glimpse of some attractions and sites on this side of the island. Whether you are like me and love history or want to take fun Instagram photos on swings with a stunning background, this day trip to East Bali will surely leave you with a deeper appreciation to explore more of this side of Bali. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇮🇩 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. eSIM Specifically for Bali 📱 Stay connected and online with this easy eSIM from Balisim. You can activate this eSIM, even before your trip. You can view all the best travel eSIM for your needs by accessing Balisim. Use my Promo Code: BRANDON10, for a 10% discount.